<Archive Obituary> Terry Kath (January 23rd 1978(

[Bill Schenley]

Terry Kath, Lead Singer Of Chicago, Dies In Mishap

Photo: Loading Image...

FROM: The New York Times (January 24th 1978) ~
By The United Press International

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Jan. 23

Terry Kath, lead singer and guitarist for the rock group
Chicago, accidentally shot himself to death tonight
following a party, the police reported.

A Spokeswoman for the group said the 33-year-old
Mr. Kath spent the afternoon in the Woodland Hills
home of a road crew member, Don Johnson, visiting
and drinking with friends. The party had broken up,
she said, and only Mr. Johnson and Mr. Kath remained
when Mr. Kath pulled an automatic pistol he usually
carried and began twirling the weapon.

Mr. Johnson asked him to stop playing with the gun,
the account continued, and Mr. Kath replied, "Don't
worry, it's not loaded, see?" Mr. Kath put the pistol to
his head and pulled the trigger, killing himself instantly,
Mr. Johnson told police.

After his boyhood, in Chicago, Mr. Kath joined Jimmy
and the Gentlemen in the early 60's. He played bass
only as a sideman for four years until joining Chicago.
---
Photo: Loading Image...

[Matthew Kruk]

One of my idols ("Hendrix idolized him"). Damn fine guitar player, especially
on the CTA album. From:

http://www.chicagotheband.com/history09.htm:

'...On January 23, l978, Chicago guitarist and singer Terry Kath died from an
accidental gunshot wound. "Terry Kath was a great talent" says Jim Guercio, who
worked with him on a solo album that was never completed. "Hendrix idolized him.
He was just totally committed to this band, and he could have been a monster (as
a solo artist)."

Kath's death devastated Chicago, and the band considered breaking up. "Right
about there was probably what I felt was the end of the group," says Peter
Cetera. "I think we were a bit scared about going our separate ways, and we
decided to give it a go again." A short time after Kath's death, "Take Me Back
To Chicago," which by now seemed as much about Kath as about Freddy Page, was
released as a single.'

Freddy Page: Drummer, Gentrys (not the Memphis "Keep On Dancing" group)/Rovin'
Kind/Illinois Speed Press:

http://www.angelfire.com/ok2/musiclink/paulcotton/fredpage.html

Take me back to Chicago
Lay my soul to rest
Where my life was free and easy
Remember me at my best

Take me back to Chicago
Where my music was all I had
I tried to be as good as I could
And sometimes that made me sad

Take me back to Chicago, to Chicago
Why don't you take me back
Take me back, take me back
To Chicago

I still dream of the lake of peacefulness
The warm summer breeze
'Cause my life was so much simpler then
Street corners and Tastee Freeze

Take me back to Chicago
'Cause hustlin's not my style
L.A. was just a bit too hard
I wish I could be a child

Livin' back in Chicago, in Chicago
Why don't you take me back
Take me back, take me back
To Chicago, to Chicago

Take me back to Chicago
Lay my soul to rest
Where my life was free and easy
Remember me at my best

Take me back to Chicago
'Cause hustlin's not my style
L.A. was just a bit too hard
I wish I could be a child
Livin' back in Chicago, in Chicago
Why don't you take me back
Take me back, take me back
To Chicago, to Chicago

Take me back, take me back....

Post by Bill Schenley
Terry Kath, Lead Singer Of Chicago, Dies In Mishap
Photo: http://www.newprophecy.net/Terry_Kath_1.jpg
FROM: The New York Times (January 24th 1978) ~
By The United Press International
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Jan. 23
Terry Kath, lead singer and guitarist for the rock group
Chicago, accidentally shot himself to death tonight
following a party, the police reported.
A Spokeswoman for the group said the 33-year-old
Mr. Kath spent the afternoon in the Woodland Hills
home of a road crew member, Don Johnson, visiting
and drinking with friends. The party had broken up,
she said, and only Mr. Johnson and Mr. Kath remained
when Mr. Kath pulled an automatic pistol he usually
carried and began twirling the weapon.
Mr. Johnson asked him to stop playing with the gun,
the account continued, and Mr. Kath replied, "Don't
worry, it's not loaded, see?" Mr. Kath put the pistol to
his head and pulled the trigger, killing himself instantly,
Mr. Johnson told police.
After his boyhood, in Chicago, Mr. Kath joined Jimmy
and the Gentlemen in the early 60's. He played bass
only as a sideman for four years until joining Chicago.
---
Photo: http://www.chicagotheband.com/images/albums/liner/c2-kath.gif

[A]

x-no-archive: yes

Post by Bill Schenley
Terry Kath, Lead Singer Of Chicago, Dies In Mishap
Photo: http://www.newprophecy.net/Terry_Kath_1.jpg
FROM: The New York Times (January 24th 1978) ~
By The United Press International
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Jan. 23
Terry Kath, lead singer and guitarist for the rock group
Chicago, accidentally shot himself to death tonight
following a party, the police reported.
A Spokeswoman for the group said the 33-year-old
Mr. Kath spent the afternoon in the Woodland Hills
home of a road crew member, Don Johnson, visiting
and drinking with friends. The party had broken up,
she said, and only Mr. Johnson and Mr. Kath remained
when Mr. Kath pulled an automatic pistol he usually
carried and began twirling the weapon.
Mr. Johnson asked him to stop playing with the gun,
the account continued, and Mr. Kath replied, "Don't
worry, it's not loaded, see?"

If a.o. was around then, Kath would have been an instant Darwin
award winner, and for his fame among the most well-known of those
outstanding Darwin winners.
He remains in that special category of dead people dying that way
noticed on this ng, although it was almost 16 years later (Dec. 12, 1993)
when a.o. had its first post.

Post by Bill Schenley
Mr. Kath put the pistol to
his head and pulled the trigger, killing himself instantly,
Mr. Johnson told police.
After his boyhood, in Chicago, Mr. Kath joined Jimmy
and the Gentlemen in the early 60's. He played bass
only as a sideman for four years until joining Chicago.
---
Photo: http://www.chicagotheband.com/images/albums/liner/c2-kath.gif